Tramway-switch construction



July 26, 1927.

P. HEIDTKAMP ET AL TRAMWAY SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1927 2 $heets-$het 1 /n ven tors July 26,1927.

P. HEIDTKAMP ET AL TRAMWAY SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheep 2 Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL HEIDTKAMP, OF SCHILDOW, NEAR BERLIN, AND PETER MELLER, OF BERLIN- ROSENTHAL, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO THE FIRM E. HESSE G. M. B. 1-1., OF BERLIN- BOSENTHAL, GERMAN Y.

TBAMWAY-SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 4, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to a tramway switch construction with a resilient tongue that is to say to a switch construction which can be adjusted to both its working positions by 6 merely relying to the resiliency of its tongue.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to improve the connection of the tongue with the body part .or skeleton of the switch construction particularly with a view to allow removal of the tongue from the body part or skeleton without opening the pavement.

A further object consists in an improved resilient tongue construction.

Two embodiments of the new switch construction are illustrated in Figures 15 and 68 respectively. a

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the first embodiment and Figures 2 to 5 are cross sec- !0 tions along the lines 11-11, IIIIII.

lVIV, VV respectively; Figure 5 showing a fragment of the section only.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the second embodiment and Figures 7 and 8 are sec- 35 tions along the lines vn vir, and

VHF-VIII respectively.

The section along line III-III of Figure 6 is identical with the section along line III-Il1 of Figure 1 and is illustrated in :0 Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of an improved resilient switch tongue and Figure 10 a cross section along the line XX.

In all the figures the resilient switch tongue is designated with the reference letter a; b designates a supplemental rail body forming an element ofthe body part or skeleton of the switch which is bolted together with the tongue (1 by bolts d and with 10 the rail 6 of the branching track by bolts 8;

h is the tongue floor of the switch body; 0

is the usual tongue shaped cover plate closing the angular space between the continuous track and the branch track.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 5 it is to be noted that the resilient tongue in this embodiment is laterally ser- 1'ated;'the serration at the side adjacent the supplemental rail 6 engaging a coordinated serration therein as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing; the serration on the opposite side of the tongue being restricted to a notch with an inclined surface f cooperating with a wedge member g bear- 165,957, and in Germany February 6, 1926.

ing against an abutment on tongue floor h.

The serration of the tongue on the side adjacent rail member 5 showing likewise inclined surfaces such as 0 acting on tightening of the nuts on bolts (Z to shift the tongue towards the branch track rail 6 so that the end of the tongue is brought intointimate contact with the end of the rail. The arrangement of the inclined surfaces 6 and f on opposite sides of the tongue secures symmetry of shifting tendencies with relation to the longitudinal axis of the tongue; however if desired the provision of inclined shifting surfaces may be restricted to one side of the tongue only.

In order to firmly position thetongue on its floor it and to avoid any displacement during lateral adjustment of the tongue the tongue should be strongly pressed down on its floor. Tothis end the foot portion of the tongue is provided with an incline 2' and the floor with an incline 7a, a clamp Z being put on such inclines and brought into lirm engagement therewith by fastening bolt (Z. The same etl'ect on the opposite side of the tongue is secured by an incline m on supplemental rail Z) or by the inclined under side a of the head of supplemental rail b.

It appears from the foregoing description that a lirm connection of the tongue root with the body part or skeleton is secured whereby the bottom surface of the tongue root is tightly pressed against the floor member ofthe structure. At the same time the construction allows easy removal of the tongue for repair which can be effected after removal of cover plate 0 by loosening of the nuts of bolts (Z, whereafter the tongue can be laterally displaced so that it becomes free from engagement with supplemental rail 6 and can be lifted from its cage.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 6-8 is distinguished from that of Figures 1'5 mainly thereby that the serration of the tongue root, wherebya firm connection of the tongue with the body part or skeleton of the structure is secured, is not provided at a lateral surface of the tongue root but at the bottom surface this being in some respects a more convenient manner. In this case the serrations of the bottom surface of the tongue and of the top surface of the floor member h consist in the provision of a groove in each of them. A wedge member 9 is inserted into; said gigoovesi-andi tigh ened therein hy'av bolted withrai nut thereom By providing one of the grooves rewiring the locking wedge g with. a, suitably inclined. ge asliifting. e fect. can be e erc-isedon he. tongue by tightening the wedge q. As illustrated on the drawing the groove in the bottom surface of the tongue ispr-ovided, with, an inclined edge p which is in contact with o e la e ah edge: o wedge 91 whereas: the: edge 1' of the groove in the floor member hwith whicln the othenluterali edge of:- the; wedge 9 contacts is penpsndiculara to) the longitudinal axisiofi the tongue. 'Iihe tights enin'g. of wedge 9 bringstha; endi of? this tongneiin the same way. into;intimatsacontact withthe adjacent and; of; the bnanchitnaclc rails e as. the tightening of: the: nuts; oft boltsclin the einbodimentzofiEigunes1k5 by the inclinedsurfaces 0- and; f. The tongue? is; pressech down on floor h byclamp 1;, as an:- pears from Figure: 3: which as? above men: tioned illustrates; not only. the; section] ofFigure 11 but also=thatr of: Fig; ure 6;. a

Also in the embodiment of Figures: fish the tongue cam easily be removed: without opening the; pavement.

The reliable.- openation depends from sufiir, cient resiliency; oh the:- tongueirrespective its strength and from. the firmness off the; connection. of the branch track: rail! cwvitln theswitch structure.

High resiliency of? the tongue: combined with high strength; cam be secured: by pro-- viding the; tongue; on both its: sides: with grooves t; u as illustrated in Figures 9.1andl 10 the grooves preferably extending substantially from. the tongue. root; whicln is firmly connected: with the. switch structure, to the point of: the tongue;

The firm connectiolr of:- the; branch. trackrail: ewith the switch structure is secured; as: illustrated; by bolts 8" connecting: rail; er: with: supplemental rail Z2 and: can. further be. improvedi if desired, by bolting on welding) 'railc to the common base plate of the switch structure.

1. In a tramway. switch= construction at switch body on skeleton and. a resilient: switch tongue connected; therewith; the in: terconnected elements providedreaclr with a serration and the serratedparts being firmly. locked' together;

2. In a tramway switchconstructioni a1 switch body: or skeleton. and a resilient:

switch tonguerconnected,therewitln the interconnected elernents provided; cuclr with a sfi i fet on at least one serration comprising 0 a surface which is inclined to the longitudinalj axis of the tongue,the serrated parts being-firmly locked tcgethcr; the inclined surface of a serration heingin engagement with. atmelnber adapted to be moved trans- B versely to the longitudinal axis of the e ses s l v 3. In a tramway switch construction a switch; body- .1 skeleton and a; resilient switch; tongue; t-herswitch body comprising; 7 a, floor pent-ion forming a support for the; tongue: and pnoyided; at its upper? side with:

a. groove; t-mnsversely tothe longitudinal: axis of the tongue, the tongue on its bottom side: likewise pnovideth utln a; tnansuerse 7t gnoove, and: a wedge: member inserted in said: roowes andi firmly con meeting; the pants toge er; I i

4., In a: tramway switch construction a' switch. body or skeleton and: aresilient, 8 switch tongue the switch body comprising a floor portion forming: in suppont ion the tongue-,; and providedi at. its: upper'sidewith a; groove transversely to; the longitudinal axis of the tongue, the tongue onitsbottom: 86 side likewise provided. witln a, transverse groove, and. a= ,wedge-membe1" insentedl ini said grooves and'firmly connecting the parts to- I gether,- the engaging lateral" edges of. the grooves author} the wedge comprising an; 90 edge which, is: inclined-1 to the longitudinal axis of; the tongue; and; adapted-to produce longitudinal. shifting of thetongue with rc- I lation to the floor in longitudinal direction 0m di'splacemenbof the wedgetransversely 9 tQytl1G tongue.

5i In; a, tramway switch. construction! a switch body or skeleton and a resilient switch; tongue the; switch body. comprising a fioon portion. forming a.- support for: the tongue anda supplemental railconnected to the end of the branch trackgrailland bolted togethenwith the. root of the tongue, the supplementall railand the root of: the tongue being-provided with contactinginclinedsurr 10! facesadapted to.produc,e-a tendency toipress the tongue down; on the floor portionon tighteni g of, the. nuts on the connecting- M154.

In testimony, whereof,. weafliit 0111'! sigr naturfi r RAULv Hn nrKA-Ism: PETER" MULLER; 

